Study of plasma sex steroid hormones in female snow trout (Schizothorax pelzami) within a year

Snow trout (Schizothorax pelzami) is an economically important species endemic in the north east of Iran. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the reproduction cycle, time and temperature range of spawning. The biometry of 243 fishes was measured and the ovarian development stages and plasma sex steroid hormones (testosterone, 17b- estradiol, progesterone and 17a-OH-progesterone) were measured during 12-months sampling. The (p<0.05) maximum significant gonadosomatic index (10.3 %) and ova diameter (1605.6 mm) were observed during April. The results showed that the concentration of sex hormones testosterone and 17b- estradiol began to increase significantly (p<0.05) during cortical alveoli stage (in September) and reached the maximum level (6.99 and 143.4 ng/mL, respectively) in February with the mean water temperature 13 oC at the end of vitelogenesis stage. The progesterone concentration began to increase at the end of vitellogenesis stage and reached (p<0.05) maximum significant level (3.49 ng/mL) in March. The concentration of 17a-OH-progesterone increased significantly (p<0.05) with a lag phase compared to progesterone in February. The results of present study showed that snow trout had a single-spawning strategy and sex steroid hormones testosterone and 17b- estradiol involved in the vitellogenesis stage and progesterone and 17a-OH-progesterone involved in the final ova maturation. The best spawning time was within March to April with temperature range 15.7-17.3 oC.